john boehner, again, speaker, said we're at a stalemate. is that how you would describe where things are? >> i think we're far apart still, but i think we're moving closer together. again, remember -- >> where are you closer? >> the republicans have said for the first time in decades, if i'm not mistaken, the leaders of the republican party, that they are prepared to raise taxes as part of a deal that helps reduce our long term deficit. what they haven't said is how far they're willing to go on rates and revenues, and that's what we need to see from them. >> they said no increased rates. >> but that's -- but they know this. there's not going to be an agreement without rates going up. there's not -- >> you'll go off the fiscal cliff if the republicans say, sorry, no way are we going to raise rates for the -- on the wealthy. you guys are willing to go off -- >> if republicans are not willing to let rates go back up and we think they should go back to the clinton levels, the time when the american economy was doing exceptionally well, there wi